MONROE - Chelsea Haffele's dogged determination sparked the Monroe girls soccer team late and Vanessa Studer's stellar individual effort provided the game-winner as the Cheesemakers defeated Fort Atkinson 2-1 in the championship game of the Monroe Quad on Saturday.
Monroe (3-2) won its third straight game by scoring both its goals in the final four minutes.
"It was a very, very exciting game. Very aggressive and very fast," Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill said. "Everyone played very smart and they had to pick up their game and play a little more aggressive than they had been playing before. They got very determined not to let this game get away from them."
Fort Atkinson's Taylor Bienfang scored in the game's third minute and the Blackhawks enjoyed the 1-0 lead until the 57th minute of the 60-minute contest. That's when Haffele's hard work paid off, as she scored on a header on an assist from Studer.
"Chelsea's header was just perfect and it sparked everyone," O'Neill said. "She played midfield for most of the game and we decided to move her forward. She's a very determined player. Every ball that came across, she literally tried to get a touch on it.
"When things are getting tough, Chelsea just plays tougher. In this game in particular, when it was a very aggressive game, that's really the type of player we needed in there."
Studer finished the victory for Monroe, scoring at 58:50 on what O'Neill said was sheer will.
"She literally dribbled around about five defenders," O'Neill said of the sophomore's unassisted tally. "I think she just decided we're not going to go to a shootout."
O'Neill said senior Molly Hlubek, sophomore Allison Coplien and freshman Emily Frankowski set the tone defensively. Hlubek was charged with neutralizing Fort Atkinson's top offensive threat in Marie Fitzgerald.
"She's a very good midfielder and very fast and difficult to shut down," O'Neill said of Fitzgerald. "We decided that it would be Molly's job and she really took it to heart and shut her down. It was really stellar defense on her part."
Senior goalkeeper Rachel Wellnitz made six saves against the Blackhawks.
Monroe defeated Janesville Parker 5-0 earlier Saturday, Studer finishing with two goals and two assists. Frankowski, sophomore Gabby Ludwig and freshman Kelley Baumann also had goals and Wellnitz made two saves to record her second shutout of the season.
Monroe (3-2) won its third straight game by scoring both its goals in the final four minutes.
"It was a very, very exciting game. Very aggressive and very fast," Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill said. "Everyone played very smart and they had to pick up their game and play a little more aggressive than they had been playing before. They got very determined not to let this game get away from them."
Fort Atkinson's Taylor Bienfang scored in the game's third minute and the Blackhawks enjoyed the 1-0 lead until the 57th minute of the 60-minute contest. That's when Haffele's hard work paid off, as she scored on a header on an assist from Studer.
"Chelsea's header was just perfect and it sparked everyone," O'Neill said. "She played midfield for most of the game and we decided to move her forward. She's a very determined player. Every ball that came across, she literally tried to get a touch on it.
"When things are getting tough, Chelsea just plays tougher. In this game in particular, when it was a very aggressive game, that's really the type of player we needed in there."
Studer finished the victory for Monroe, scoring at 58:50 on what O'Neill said was sheer will.
"She literally dribbled around about five defenders," O'Neill said of the sophomore's unassisted tally. "I think she just decided we're not going to go to a shootout."
O'Neill said senior Molly Hlubek, sophomore Allison Coplien and freshman Emily Frankowski set the tone defensively. Hlubek was charged with neutralizing Fort Atkinson's top offensive threat in Marie Fitzgerald.
"She's a very good midfielder and very fast and difficult to shut down," O'Neill said of Fitzgerald. "We decided that it would be Molly's job and she really took it to heart and shut her down. It was really stellar defense on her part."
Senior goalkeeper Rachel Wellnitz made six saves against the Blackhawks.
Monroe defeated Janesville Parker 5-0 earlier Saturday, Studer finishing with two goals and two assists. Frankowski, sophomore Gabby Ludwig and freshman Kelley Baumann also had goals and Wellnitz made two saves to record her second shutout of the season.
